2021 Ford Ranger Raptor Off-Road Review

Ford’s Ranger is very much a home-grown sensation here in Australia, proving what an increbible product our local engineers are capable of creating. The 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor is very much the ultimate Ranger, promising incredible off-road capability to match its truly imposing looks. We were mightily impressed with the Ford Ranger Wildtrak X we recently tested, so we had high hopes for the Raptor which features a much wider track, heavily revised Fox suspension, and proper off-road tyres over the regular Ranger models.

What better way to test the 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor than in the picturesque Kinglake National Park, full of muddy ruts, steep inclines and tough tracks for 4×4 enthusiasts. Raptor territory. So is the Ranger Raptor the ultimate Ford Ranger? Let’s find out.

Price & Specs: 7.5/10

The Ford Ranger Raptor we tested topped the Ranger lineup locally and kicked off at $76,490 plus on-road costs, making it the most expensive dual-cab ute in Australia until the Jeep Gladiator appeared earlier this year. It’s worth noting that Ford have since done a mild shakeup to the Raptor locally, as it’s now called the Raptor X and starts from $79,390 before on-road costs. Standard equipment remained much the same as with the Raptor we tested, with the following cosmetic changes added to the Raptor X:

• Body stripes covering the bonnet, roof and tailgate
• Asphalt Black matte alloy wheels
• Extended leg sports bar
• Red front tow hooks
• Black Ford logo on tailgate
• Matte grille, front bumper, over fenders, door handles, tailgate handle, fender vent, mirror scalps, fog lamp bezel, rear bumper cover and wheel caps
• Red stitching on the steering wheel and dash replaces the original blue stitching
• Black accents across the dash and doors

Headlining the Ranger Raptor act are pieces of hardware designed to make the Raptor as rugged as possible. It features a 2.3mm high-tensile steel plate to protect from rock strikes, the suspension has been beefed up considerably, the track widened by 150mm compared to a Ranger Wildtrak. The Raptor has a class leading 283mm of ground clearance in doubt due to Ford’s choice of using Fox 2.5 shock absorbers. These shocks are rather special as they feature some clever engineering designed to allow the Raptor speed across deserts or get up rocky tracks. Gone are the rear leaf springs, replaced with new coilover suspension. 

Equipment highlights include bi-LED headlights with LED daytime running lights, auto lights and wipers, keyless entry and start, heated and electric-folding mirrors, an 8.0-inch touchscreen running Ford’s Sync 3 with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, inbuilt satellite navigation, digital radio, special Ford Performance sports seats trimmed with leather and suede fabric, a six-way electrically adjustable driver’s seat with lumbar adjustment, heated front seats, multi-colour ambient lighting, a performance leather steering wheel featuring a prominent red stripe at 12 o’clock and countless Raptor badges dotted around the cabin.

Safety kit includes six airbags, auto emergency braking (AEB) with pedestrian detection, lane departure warning with lane keep assist, traffic sign recognition, auto high beam, rear parking sensors, a reversing camera and driver attention monitoring. Blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and auto reverse braking were all unavailable.

Our Raptor came in the hero ‘Ford Performance Blue’ colour and there’s also ‘Shadow Black’, ‘Conquer Grey’ (all $650) and ‘Arctic White’ (no cost) to choose from.

Performance & Economy: 7/10

The Ranger Raptor is powered by a 2.0-litre bi-turbo diesel engine, with 157kW of power and 500Nm of torque which is tasked with pulling the Raptor’s rather portly 2,342kg. It’s paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission which was actually co-developed by Ford and General Motors. The engine is shared with the Ranger Wildtrak and Ranger XLT. Those thinking that the Raptor can match the 0-100km/h dash of other Ford Performance products such as the Fiesta ST will be sorely mistaken. In fact, it’s even slower than the Wildtrak which uses the same engine. Thank the Raptor’s extra weight and the taller tyres which give the Raptor taller gearing on the road.

The Ranger Raptor’s 0 to 100km/h sprint is rather leisurely and takes more than 10 seconds. This is not some super quick Ranger or V8-powered F-150 Raptor. Ford, instead, follows a different approach to performance. This Ranger is all about dominating tough terrain and covering ground quickly over loose surfaces. The 10-speed automatic does an incredible job with keeping the engine in its power band. It shifts imperceptibly between ratios and skips a few gears at a time to offer a conventional feel.

Off-road, the Raptor’s drivetrain comes into its own. It has a proper low range gearbox, a locking rear differential and selectable drive modes designed to match the terrain you’re driving on. Not once did the engine, gearbox or diffs behave anything other than flawlessly in the muddy playground near Toolangi, just north-east of Melbourne. We couldn’t help feeling however that the Raptor deserves more power on the drive home. Overtaking is slower than in a base Ford Focus after all. Luckily, the next Ranger Raptor is expected to come with a 3.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine which will offer a much better turn of speed.

The Ranger Raptor features an 80-litre tank and is said to consume an average of 8.2-litres/100km. Not a bad result for what can only be described as a tank. Around town, we averaged a very respectable 10.0-litres/100km.

Ride, Handling and Off-Road: 9/10

Driving the 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor feels like nothing else. It feels indestructible as speed bumps are pummelled into oblivion, kerbs don’t exist and roundabouts can almost be traversed right over their centre. No obstacle is a problem for the Raptor around time. The you sit much higher than in a Wildtrak than in any other ute and other utes seem tiny in comparison. Around town, the steering is light and super direct, which is a good thing as the Raptor is significantly wider than any Ranger. It takes up almost a whole lane in city traffic. It rides very well around town like other Rangers, with no jittering or feeling floaty and thanks to the clever active noise suppression system it’s actually quieter that any other Ranger. A job well done on the comfort front.

A word of warning though, the Raptor can be a tad scary to drive in the wet around town. The BF Goodrich tyres might be perfectly suited to muddy tracks, but the Raptor will easily spins its rear wheels when setting off on wet tarmac. The Raptor does however remain predictable even if the amounts of grip on offer are on the low side.

Venturing off-road is where the Raptor feels most at home and where it promises to serve up loads of fun on any outdoors adventure. Suddenly you see the very reason behind why the Raptor was made as it’s an absolute beast in devouring terrain. It feels incredibly composed on corrugated gravel roads, covering ground briskly. When terrain becomes muddy, the excellent tyres grip well and when the track gets steep and tricky, the excellent ground clearance means that this ute will venture where other utes can only dream of going.

On the aptly named Rocky Track, the Raptor never lost traction once, making it up steep terrain with ease. Be mindful of the width of this large ute however, or you could end up with some rather unsightly scratches to the Raptor’s body. Here we also tested the built-in terrain management system with its six driving modes; Normal, Sport, Grass/Gravel/Snow, Mud/Sand, Rock and Baja. As a 4×4 newbie, the Raptor made me feel safe and secure and I was astonished at the speed I was able to carry through corners on gravel.

Should you wish to tow a boat or caravan, the 2021 Ranger Raptor comes with a 2,500kg braked towing capacity. This is less than other Rangers such as the Wildtrak, meaning that it is not necessarily the ultimate towing companion.

Interior & Practicality: 7/10

We were rather impressed with the Ranger Wildtrack X’s interior when we tested it a few months ago, even if it is really starting to show its age in 2021. The Raptor feels very similar to other Rangers inside, but with a few pieces of trim to feel just that little bit more special. From the blue stitching to the Raptor badges throughout, Ford have managed to elevate the humble Ranger cabin to something a little nicer.

Most plastics used inside are hard, but they are hard wearing and feel built to last. The steering wheel falls well to hand, and the magnesium paddle shifters feel beautifully crafted. The instruments are bespoke to the Raptor and offer an old school sporty touch with their lack of large digital screen as seen in the Wildtrak. The gear shifter is chunky and trimmed in leather, as is the handbrake. 

The Raptor comes with Ford’s Sync 3 infotainment, displayed on an 8-inch screen positioned in the middle of the dashboard. It’s a great system, easy to use and super user friendly. Wired Apple CarPlay and Android Auto feature too. Even though the Raptor doesn’t get any special speakers, music still sounds great and weekends away will sound great, even over the course sound of the diesel engine.

Slipping into the excellent Ford Performance sports seats up front shows just how much of an improvement they are over the Ranger Wildtrak’s. They’re firmly bolstered and have lovely under-thigh support. Whether cruising around or tackling a steep track, they’re wonderful. The driving position is decent too, with both reach and rake adjustment in the steering wheel.

In the back seats, rear seat space is decent without hitting any highs. Headroom is good, whilst legroom is at a premium for taller passengers. Those of average hight should have no issues. There is also a proper three-pin 240V power outlet and a 12V plug. Sadly the Raptor doesn’t come with any air vents.

The 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor’s load tray is well shaped and coated in a non-slip lining. Ford claims that it is built to last, with special testing done showing how well it stands up to even the most demanding tests.

Service & Warranty: 8.5/10

The 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor comes with Ford’s five-year/unlimited km warranty. The Raptor will require a service every 12 months or 15,000km – whichever comes first. Ford also offer one year of free roadside assistance with each of the Raptor’s scheduled services.

Ford offers capped-price servicing for the Ranger Raptor, meaning that each of the first four services will cost no more than $299 each while the fifth service will cost $365. This is much better than the Toyota Hilux which requires a visit to the dealership every six months, with each visit costing $260. Over 5 years the Raptor will cost $1561 to service, whilst the Hilux will be $2,600.

2021 Ford Ranger Raptor DiscoverAuto Rating: 7.8/10

Yes, it’s a bit brash and in your face and you don’t exactly need one over a regular Ranger, but the 2021 Ford Ranger Raptor is perfect for those who want a ute that looks super tough and offers solid off-road talent. It might not tow the most, or be the most practical, fastest or even the cheapest but it offers macho character in droves. It gels perfectly with adventurous folk on the weekends and is still perfectly useful day to day. This is however a ute designed to be bought with the heart and not the head.

We can’t help but wish that the diesel engine doesn’t offer more grunt and excitement. There isn’t anything inherently wrong with the engine, but a little bit more drama and acceleration wouldn’t go astray. Great off road it may be, and capable of going jumping over sand dunes, but on tarmac, the Raptor should offer more driving thrills.

It’s a truly unique ute, unlike anything else on sale and offers some of the most imposing and bold looks of any car on sale today. We can’t help but also wonder how brilliant the next Raptor will be with its more powerful turbocharged petrol engine. In the meantime, for those of you who are thinking of one, we say follow your heart and buy one. You won’t be disappointed.